Structural member for roof framework



Feb. 19, 1963 E. L. DEICKE 3,077,961

STRUCTURAL MEMBER FOR ROOF FRAMEWORK Filed July 5, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

Feb. 19, 1963 E. L. DEICKE STRUCTURAL MEMBER FOR ROOF FRAMEWORK Filed July 5, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2. 7

Feb. 19, 1963 E. 1.. DEICKE 3,077,961

' STRUCTURAL MEMBER FOR ROOF FRAMEWORK F Filed July 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3,077,961 STRUCTURAL MEMBER F012 R001 FRAMEWURK Elmer L. Deiclte, Clayton, M0., assignor to Gustel R. Kiewitt, Ladne, Mo. Filed July 5, 1960, Ser. 1 o. 40,512 Claims. (Cl. 189-66) This invention relates to structural members for roof framework, and more particularly for roof framework of the lamellar-lattice type such as shown, for example, in Pantke US. Patent 1,659,471, patented February 14, 1928.

The invention is especially concerned with structural members for a lamellar-latticed type of roof framework having structural steel members, such as I-beams, arranged in a lamellar-lattice, or diamond grid pattern, wherein each l-beam has a length corresponding to twice the length of a side of a diamond of the grid pattern. In such a construction, at each corner of each diamond, the ends of first and second aligned I-beams meet opposite sides of a third l beam at the midpoint of the latter and at an angle to the latter. Tie bars are provided extending between two diagonally opposite corners of each diamond. Usualy, the l beams are angularly related in such manner that each diamond has a long diagonal and a short diagonal, and the tie bars extend on the short diagonals of the diamonds.

Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of an improved structural member for making a joint construction for interconnection of the stated first, second and third beams and the tie bars which meet at each corner of a diamond, this joint construction being such that there are no exposed rivet heads or bolts at the top of the framework at the corners of the diamonds, thereby eliminating any necessity for providing shims on top of the framework for shimming up the roof sheathing, the latter being adapted to be laid directly on the beams; the provision of structural members for a joint construction such as described including beam end members which may be assembled with the beams in the shop, thereby simplifying erection in the field to the extent that it eliminates the necessity for field welding and requires only the application of fas tenets such as bolts or rivets for interconnecting together the first, second and third beams and tie bars which meet at each corner of a diamond; and the provision of a structural member for joint construction such as described which establishes strong joints at the diamond corners capable of transferring moments such as must be sustained by the framework. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of an arched roof framework embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlargment of the portion of the framework contained in the circle C shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

KG. 5 is a plan view of one arched member of the framework, at the angle at which it appears in FIG. 1 and on a larger scale than FIG. 1, and broken away to reduce the size of the view; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of FIG. 5.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corre- 3,67'L9l Patented Feb. 19, 1963 spending parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a portion of an arched roof framework comprising a plurality of parallel skew arches it which extend at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the arched roof framework (which is from side-to-side of FIG. 1), and a plurality of parallel skew arches 3 which are oppositely angled as regards arches 1 so as to provide the lamellar-lattice or diamond grid pattern as appears in FIG. 1. The arches 1 intersect arohes 3 at points which constitute the corners of diamonds D of the diamond grid pattern. The diamond corners toward the bottom of FIG. 1 are designated 5a, the next series of corners are designated 5b, the next series of corners are designated 5c, and so on. As shown in FIG. 1, the angles of the skew arches are such that each diamond D has a long diagonal (its diagonal which extends in the vertical direction of FIG. 1), and a short diagonal (its diagonal which extends laterally as regards FIG. 1). The framework is triangulated by tie bars 7 extending on the short diagonals of the diamonds.

Each of the skew arches 1 comprises a series of individual arch members 9 each having a length corresponding to twice the length of a side of a diamond D. Similarly, each of the skew arches 3 comprises a series of individual arch members 11 each having a length corresponding to twice the length of a side of a diamond. These arch members are so arranged that, at each corner of each diamond, the respective ends of a first and a second aligned arch member meet opposite sides of a third arch member at the midpoint of the latter and at an angle to the latter. Thus, at the corner 50 bounded by the circle C in FIG. 1, the ends of a first arch member specially designated 9a and a second aligned arch member specially designated iib meet opposite sides of a third arch member specially designated 11a. The latter extends continuously from a diamond corner 5b to a diamond corner 50!. Member extends from a corner 5a to the designated corner 5c, and member 9b extends in continuation of member 9a from the designated corner 5c for a distance corresponding to twice the length of the side of a diamond.

As herein illustrated, each of the arch members 9 and 11 (including members 9a, 9b and 11a) consists of an I-beam having a web 13 and flanges 15 (see FIGS. 2-6). In the erected framework, the web 13: of each I-beam is vertical, its flanges being at the top and bottom. Beams 9 and 11 have identical cross sections. In accordance with this invention, and as illustrated best in FIGS. 2-4, the stated first, second and third arch members or beams 91:, 9b and 11a which meet at the designated corner 56 are joined by means of supporting plates 17 welded as indicated at 19 to the ends of the beams 9a and 9b and engaging opposite sides of the web of the beam 11a, and fasteners 21 extending through identical configurations of openings in the plates 17 and in the mid portion of the web of beam 11a. Plates 17 are welded to the projecting beam ends at angles to the planes of the webs of the beams corresponding to the angle of intersection of beams 9a and 9b with beam 11. Thus each plate extends oppositely from the web at complementary obtuse and acute angles. Lugs 23 welded to the plates 17 as indicated at 25 extend outward from the plates, and the tie bars 7 which meet beams 9a, 9b and 11a at the designated corner 50 are joined thereto by fasteners 27 extending through the tie bars and these lugs. The lugs extend in the line of the short diagonals of the diamonds. Thus they are located within the above-mentioned obtuse angles and extend from the plates 17 at substantially one-half of said obtuse angle. As shown, fasteners 21 and 27 are bolts for which openings are provided in the lugs 23. They could be rivets. Each of the end plates 17 has angled flanges 29 at top and bottom which are received in notches 31 cut in the flange 13 of beams 9a, 9b, as the case may be. The angled flanges 29 of plate 17 lie within the flanges 15 of the Lbeam; The ends of flanges 15 of beams 9a and 9b are cut oil at an angle as indicated at 33 corresponding to the angle of beam 11:: relative to beams 9a and 9b, and are contiguous to flanges 15 of beam 11a and flush with the latter. Plates 17 extend parallel to and lie outward of flange ends 33.

It will be understood that the joints at all the diamond corners are essentially identical to the joint at corner 50 as above described. Thus, each of the beams 9 and 11 has end plates 17 at both ends thereof, as will be apparent from FIGS. and 6. All the end plates are provided with lugs 23 for connection of tie bars 7. The latter, as herein illustrated, are channel-section bars, there being two such bars on the short diagonal of each diamond.

From the above, it will be apparent that the joints at the corners of the diamond are made without projection of any fasteners above the top flanges of the I-beams. Accordingly, there is no necessity for providing any shims for the roof sheathing which is laid on the framework. It will also be apparent that the I-beams may be fabricated with the end plates 17 welded thereto in the shop, and that erection of the structure then simply involves field assembly and application of the bolts 21 and 27. While the invention is above described as it pertains to an arched roof structure, it will be understood that it is equally applicable to a flat roof structure. Also, while the beams 9 and 11 are'herein disclosed as being I-bearns, it will be understood that other structural sections might be used.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allv matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings Shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A structural member for use in constructing lamellar-lattice roof frameworks comprising an I-beam having a Web and flanges, the margins of opposite ends of each flange being spaced inwardly from respective end portions of the web, supporting plates attached at opposite end POI-.- tions of the web, each supporting plate extending in a plane from the web at obtuse and supplementary acute angles with respect to opposite sides of the web, the obtusely angled extensions of the plates lying on opposite sides of the web and the acutely angled extensions of the plates also lying on opposite sides of the web, and tie-bar lugs attached to and extending from said supporting plates within and at substantially one-halfof the obtuse angles.

2. A structural member according to claim 1, wherein the inwardly spaced end of each flange terminates in a margin extending substantially parallel to the plane of the adjacent supporting plate, the flange of the I-beam being notched adjacent to each inwardly spaced flange margin, each supporting plate having marginal flanges passing through said notches respectively and adjacent to said margins.

3. A structural member according to claim 2, wherein said attachments of the supporting plates to the web and of the lugs to the fastener plates are constituted by weldmg.

4. A structural member according to claim 3, wherein said'web of the I-beam contains openings in a certain configuration located substantially midway between the ends of the web, and said supporting plates contain openings in substantially the same configuration.

5. A structural member according to claim 4, wherein said lugs contain openings for effecting tie-bar attachments References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wallis Nov. 10, 1936 

1. A STRUCTURAL MEMBER FOR USE IN CONSTRUCTING LAMELLAR-LATTICE ROOF FRAMEWORKS COMPRISING AN I-BEAM HAVING A WEB AND FLANGES, THE MARGINS OF OPPOSITE ENDS OF EACH FLANGE BEING SPACED INWARDLY FROM RESPECTIVE END PORTIONS OF THE WEB, SUPPORTING PLATES ATTACHED AT OPPOSITE END PORTIONS OF THE WEB, EACH SUPPORTING PLATE EXTENDING IN A PLANE FROM THE WEB AT OBTUSE AND SUPPLEMENTARY ACUTE ANGLES WITH RESPECT TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE WEB, THE OBTUSELY ANGLED EXTENSIONS OF THE PLATES LYING ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE WEB AND THE ACUTELY ANGLED EXTENSIONS OF THE PLATES ALSO LYING ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE WEB, AND TIE-BAR LUGS ATTACHED TO AND EXTENDING FROM SAID SUPPORTING PLATES WITHIN AND AT SUBSTANTIALLY ONE-HALF OF THE OBTUSE ANGLES. 